Introduction to Statistical Computing (511)
Course Objectives
Completion of the course will give a student the ability to use a computer to
effectively manage and manipulate
data, conduct basic statistical analyses, and generate reports and graphics.
This course will also introduce the student
to the basic tenets of computer programming language and syntax.
Topics
This class will begin with a very general introduction to statistical programming using the SAS System. We will learn the important features of various types of data sets and files. We will talk about data entry and data management techniques. Through hands-on examples, we will learn how to import and export data, merge related data sets, conduct simple statistical procedures on data sets, and generate appropriate charts, plots, reports, and graphics. We will emphasize basic programming skills necessary for effective statistical programming, such as if-then loops, random number generation, treating missing data, and transforming variables.
Tentative Schedule of Weekly Topics
1 Overview of Data Management, Definitions of Basic Terms, Introduction to Computers
and Operating Systems, Features of Various Types of Data Files
2 Introduction to SAS, Structure of SAS, SAS data sets, SAS statement syntax,
SAS Output, Running a SAS program.
3 Using SAS Procedures: Printing Data Sets, Charts and Plots
4 Frequency Tables and Cross-tabulations, Descriptive Statistics
5 Sorting Data, Subgroup Processing
6 Creating Data Sets, Creating and Transforming Variables
7 Statistical programming: Declarative Statements, Conditional Execution, Missing
Values
8 Statistical programming (continued), Reading/Importing Data Sets
9 Multiple Input Data Sets, Special Variables, Multiple Output Data Sets
10 Report Writing Procedures (PROC TABULATE)
11 Introduction to SAS/IML
12 Statistical Graphics using SAS/Graph
13 Introduction to Selected SAS Statistical Procedures (GLM, REG)
14 Writing MACROS
15 Managing SAS Libraries